Utah | Road Dirt

The pilgrimage to the Great American Southwest restarts with a stop. Battling unyielding desert winds and homogenized souvenir shops pervasive from Kingman through Sedona and into Gallup, it was time to give man and machine a break. Three days visiting close friends in Santa Fe and out of the saddle was the tonic I needed. It was hard to leave; it felt good to be back on the road.

Motorcycle Gear: Of Leather and Lid

by J. Joshua Placa | Aug 29, 2024 | Bikes & Gear | 0 |

There is an old saying that gentlemen bikers can never have too many leather jackets. There are so many occasions to be prepared for when only the appropriate coat will do. So a diverse closet of casual, work, play and formal biker-wear is required. Of course, you need wet, cold, hot and the-weather-in-between seasonal gear, as well as the occasional need for, of course, Old West fringe or ski slope chic.

2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: Road and Dirt

by Rob Brooks | Aug 26, 2024 | Bikes & Gear, Rides & Roads | 8 |

Ripping down Utah State 40 through the vast and beautiful Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, our motorcycle entourage suddenly arrived at our dirt turn-off. Pulling over before descending into the deep and somewhat narrow canyon, our Royal Enfield group leader gave us a few pointers about the route they’d scouted the day before, then down we rode into the ravine. The ride on 40 had been glorious, over the hills and around the lakes in this portion of northeast Utah. The warning signs at the beginning of the off-road section of our ride alarmed me, however. “Travel At Your Own Risk”, “Dangerous Road Ahead”, among others had me wondering why I was here. I’m primarily a street rider, and I feared this segment might take me way out of my wheelhouse and skill level.

Riding With The Ghost Of John Wayne, Part II

by J. Joshua Placa | Jul 26, 2024 | Rides & Roads | 8 |

The badlands will change you. It can elevate your wanderings into something spiritual, or it can turn you savage. It is an unforgiving world with small tolerance for error or idiots. It will make you feel like the first to touch a new planet. It can uplift you to heights unimagined, or make you fight for your life.

Colorado’s Lane Filtering Laws: Some Thoughts

by Rob Brooks | Apr 10, 2024 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads | 10 |

Colorado has become the fifth state to legalize lane filtering after Gov. Jared Polis signed SB24-079 on April 4, allowing motorcycles to filter between stopped cars in traffic and at stoplights.